Faced with two competing theatrical releases about the CIA and winnowing Robert Littell's best-selling novel about the spy business into a $100-million-plus, 21/2-hour movie, filmmaker Ridley Scott decided The Company would make a better miniseries.

Even if you aren't an avid player of video games, you probably know about the impending arrival of Halo 3 (Sept. 25 for Xbox 360) and Grand Theft Auto IV (Oct. 16 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360). On the eve of the game industry's E3 Media and Business Summit, which runs Wednesday through Friday, USA TODAY's Mike Snider looks at four less-heralded titles that could steal the show in Santa Monica, Calif. For additional screenshots, video and an E3 blog, visit tech.usatoday.com.

Christopher Reeve's outfit in the movie "Superman" and the latex creature suit from "Alien" were among pieces of memorabilia that fetched more than $2 million at auction, the company that sponsored the auction said.

The big lesson from Oscars 2006? Hype is overrated. Last May at Cannes, Babel was pegged as a prime best-picture contender, and the exuberant response to a Dreamgirls preview earned it front-runner status. Both lost steam once they opened months later.

The big lesson from Oscars 2006? Hype is overrated. Last May at Cannes, Babel was pegged as a prime best-picture contender, and the exuberant response to a Dreamgirls preview earned it front-runner status. Both lost steam once they opened months later.

Several of last year's movies including Little Miss Sunshine, set against a Southwest road trip used geography to whet an appetite for travel. USA TODAY's Laura Bly gives our picks for 2006 films that weren't nominated for best picture but whose locations merit an award for best scenery.

Actors gain fame. Directors take control. Producers have the power. But screenwriters? They're often lucky just to receive proper credit for their work. This year, Oscar makes amends by turning the spotlight on wordsmiths by highlighting 75 of the most memorable movie lines on its poster. Taking that cue, USA TODAY's Susan Wloszczyna introduces you to the five nominated screenwriters behind the best-picture hopefuls.